Who’s tickling her?

Olivia Carter was puzzled. How could she still feel ticklish even after death? Then she heard a soft, childlike voice near her ear.

"It seems she's not dead."

A tiny hand gently rubbed her nose.

"She's still breathing," came another voice—this one softer but with a much more mature tone.

Slowly, Olivia opened her eyes. Staring back at her were two eerily similar faces—one slightly larger than the other.

The little boy frowned, his young face carrying an unexpected maturity. Though still a child, his straight nose, thick eyebrows, and large eyes hinted at the strikingly handsome man he would grow into.

The little girl beside him appeared frailer, but her large, clear eyes—stark in contrast between black and white—along with her long lashes, made her look like a fallen angel. If not for her pale, babyish face, she would have been breathtaking.

The older boy sighed in relief, yet his large eyes were still filled with fear as he looked at Olivia.

The little girl clung to her brother's shirt with red, swollen, cracked hands, her eyes filled with terror.

Olivia was taken aback. She had always been known for her sharp wit and strong personality, but she never thought of herself as frightening. So why were these two children looking at her as though she were a hungry wolf?

Then she noticed her surroundings.

The smoke-stained walls were damaged and crumbling. Aside from the worn-out cotton quilt covering her, there was barely anything of value in the room—just an old wooden desk and a few stools.

Where was this?

Before she could process more, a sharp pain shot through her skull, and an overwhelming flood of memories poured into her mind.

The boy’s name was Ethan, and the girl was Emma. And the previous owner of this body—like her—was also named Olivia Carter. This Olivia was their mother and the daughter-in-law of the Carter family in the remote town of Westwood. Her husband, James Carter, had been serving in the military for over a year and was set to return soon.

Olivia looked down at her robust waistline and came to a shocking realization—she had time-traveled.

Who would have thought that she, an elite woman from the 21st century, would wake up in the body of a struggling mother in a poor rural village after a car accident?

Others time-travel and become princesses, queens, or wealthy heiresses. Why did I get stuck as a poor woman with two kids?

What kind of ridiculous fate was this?

Before Olivia could fully absorb her new reality, the sound of two growling stomachs broke the silence.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, rubbing her throbbing temples.

"I... We're not hungry. I'll take my sister to work in the field right now. Please don’t hit us!" Ethan took a deep breath, his small body shielding Emma as if bracing for a beating.

Behind him, Emma shrank back, not daring to make eye contact.

What the hell?

Olivia was startled. Then, as more memories surfaced, she realized the previous Olivia was a cruel and selfish mother. She had spent her days berating or outright beating her children, leaving them malnourished, poorly clothed, and forced to do labor in the fields.

She was awful! In the 21st century, she’d be arrested for child abuse!

How did Olivia—a woman known for her intelligence and sharp instincts—end up in the body of such a heartless woman?

A splitting headache pulsed through her skull.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a gentle smile. "Don't be afraid. After all, I’m your real mother, and I’ll treat you kindly from now on."

She stood up and walked toward the kitchen. The old Olivia would rather starve her children while hoarding food for herself.

Ethan and Emma exchanged glances, dumbfounded.

Olivia had never smiled at them before.

She had also never called them by their real names, only referring to them with insults like waste of space, parasite, should’ve been drowned at birth.

Would she really change?

The two children remained skeptical.

Meanwhile, Olivia grabbed a ladle to fetch water from the jar but froze when she saw her reflection.

The Reflection in the water shocked her.

Ignoring the face for a moment, she focused on the body—a broad, chubby figure. Though the features were delicate, they were buried under layers of fat. She pinched her waist, realizing that all the weight her children had lost had ended up on her.

No wonder they looked half-starved!

Her appearance perfectly fit the old saying: Ugly people often behave terribly.

Olivia sighed. Fine. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

She accepted her reality. From her memories, she learned that the old Olivia had once been a village beauty. But after falling ill at eighteen, she had gained weight uncontrollably until she looked the way she did now.

But weight can be lost! If I work at it, I can regain my beauty.

Half an hour later, Olivia used a small stash of hidden flour and salt to prepare a pot of dumplings.

"Ethan, Emma, it’s time to eat," she called.

Three chipped porcelain bowls sat on the table, steam rising from hot noodle soup. The rich aroma filled the shabby house.

But Emma and Ethan remained frozen in place. Their eyes were locked on the food, saliva pooling in their mouths, yet they didn’t dare approach the table.

Olivia sighed. What kind of mother terrifies her children to this extent?

"It’s okay," she said gently. "I know I haven’t treated you well in the past, but after this near-death experience, I’ve realized something—you are my children. My treasures. From now on, I’ll take good care of you."

She smiled and took a step forward.

Emma and Ethan exchanged wary glances, still unsure if they could trust her.

Olivia stretched out her arms and pulled them into a hug.

Their bodies stiffened in shock.

Was their Olivia... hugging them?

The last time she touched them, she had either hit them or thrown them aside.

Ethan clenched his small fists, his voice tense. "Don’t throw us to our deaths. We’ll work hard!"

Emma, however, just trembled, her large watery eyes welling up before she burst into tears.

Olivia was stunned.

Quickly, she wiped Emma’s tears and spoke in a soft voice. "You are my heart, my soul, my sweet little ones. How could I bear to hurt you? Don't cry, Emma."

She lifted them onto stools, placed chopsticks in their hands, and reassured them, "Eat up. From now on, as long as I have food, you will too."

Ethan's tense expression slowly faded, replaced by confusion.

Emma’s sobs quieted as she stared at the hot, fragrant noodles before her.

Olivia's eyes were sincere.

And the noodles... smelled too good to resist.

Hesitantly, they took their first bites.

When Olivia didn’t hit them or take their food away, they grew bolder, devouring every last drop.

As Olivia watched them, her heart softened.

Just then, a wrinkled, bony hand snatched her bowl away.

"Well, well, I survive on cornmeal and vegetables, but here you are enjoying wheat noodles," sneered Marjorie Carter, Olivia’s mother-in-law, standing in the doorway with a vegetable basket.

She examined the half-eaten bowl, then devoured it in a few bites.

Olivia was stunned.

Who just steals food like that?!

Marjorie sniffed and scoffed, "My dear daughter-in-law, you have money for fine flour, but none to honor your mother-in-law?"

She turned and marched into the kitchen. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a hidden sack of food.

Watching Marjorie’s shameless behavior, Olivia sneered inwardly.

So, anyone can just snatch things and make a fuss, huh?